Based on a true story, American Me is a brutally violent
prison drama about a Mexican-American hoodlum who forms a gang while serving an 18-year stretch to protect fellow Mexicans from attacks from other inmates, becoming a kingpin behind prison
walls.

Upon his release, he finds life difficult to acclimatise
to, and soon finds himself back behind bars again.

The film gained notoriety for its brutal depiction of
prison life, including a homosexual rape scene, and though the narrative is a little slow moving, the performance of Edward James Olmos is excellent.

The same writers returned to similar themes with Blood In,
Blood Out (qv) released a year later.

6/10

Edward James Olmos in American Me

Did
You Know:

Edward James Olmos received many death threats from
Mexican Mafia members. Before filming began, they were under the impression that the movie was to be a favourable portrait of their organization, and were angered when the film emphasized
their criminal activities.